It's All In a Sign

There are many times as I drive around, that the signs I see give me pause. Oft times, the meaning is unclear and my mind tries to interpret the sign in ways that make me laugh.

Contradictions

This first sign is a contradiction:

I found this out by my village last year - at a time when I was searching for acacia trees to buy and have the villagers plant on the border of the field.  Seeing as the year prior, lizards ate the trees as they began to grow in the tree sacs, I decided we would buy the trees already started and at an easier stage to protect.

This sign says that the farm is called Acacias.  Despite the picture of the chicken on the sign, I felt sure that I could buy acacia trees at this farm.  The chief's son did not agree - he told me the farm sold chickens and eggs.  One day, I went out to check and indeed - the farm did not sell trees, it sold chickens and eggs.

I guess I should have known better ... in a country with a literacy rate of 28% among adults, the most important element on the sign is the picture and not the words!!

This started me, however, on an endeavour to collect numerous signs around the city - with which to share my enjoyment with you.

This second sign is another contradiction:

The sign indicates the store is "closed" and yet the door is wide open!  Which do I believe??!?


Borrowed Themes

Then - there are the signs which remind me of home ... those which "borrow" symbols from popular chains.

I too have a 7-11 corner store:

I can eat food at a Wendy's knock-off:

And while in Burkina Faso, I can visit their version of McDonald's

English Signs

There are signs in English that seem to need a bit of interpretation - my mind goes a little out-of-the-box with its fun in trying to figure out their meaning.

For instance - this furniture store.  God's Time Manufacturing??  I know that the Bible says that one day to God is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day ... So, when precisely will my furniture be available??

And this dry cleaning store which irons your clothes.  

Never mind that the washing machine picture is a water washing machine ... Time Pressing??  Were they trying to express the idea of you being "pressed for time" ... so they will do your laundry for you?  

French Interpretations

And sometimes the French signs also need some interpretive work.  

This pharmacy is called the "Pharmacy of the Future" .... so:  How far in the future will I receive my medicine??  If I buy my medicine here - Am I guaranteed a future??



This store - Chic Store - sells imported items from America ... a little more expensive, but a fun place to go 2-3 times per year just to see what I can spoil myself with.  Sometimes it is tins of salmon, a box of cheerios, a tin of iced tea powder (when you drink 5 litres of a water a day ... a cup of iced tea now and then is a nice treat! - this tin lasts me six months!), yesterday I found wild cherry pepsi!!

However, their sign makes me giggle every time I go.  For those who don't read French, this store sells: food, cosmetics, habits, perfume, accessories, shoes, games, baby items.

Wait ... habits??!?  I think they meant to say: "habilles" ... French for clothes. 

But, I wonder every time: What habits are they selling?  Good habits or bad habits??!?  Can I buy patience or self-control??  Has someone lately bought laziness or anger??  Perhaps, as a visitor mused this week, they are selling nun's habits!


Finally - this is a sign for a school:  Centre of Inventions

I'd maybe like to find this school.  How many inventors are there?? Do they collaborate or all have their own work area??  What exactly are they inventing??  I am just way to curious.

And finally ... 

Can I fix this for you??

And then the signs that I just wish I had paint and brush so I could fix their sign for them: